Fourteen years in the National Hockey League and Pavel Kubina has never worn a shield.
Yet an incident on Sunday night in Washington, scared the Flyers veteran defenseman, who now says he may try wearing a shield next fall in training camp to see if he can get used to it.
Ive been cut many times, said Kubina, who required stitches above his left eye to close a wound. He was struck by a deflected puck off the stick of Alex Ovechkin during the Flyers' 1-0 win.
The shield bothers me. I sweat and I feel like Im losing my vision and its always wet. I know its smart to have one, but Ive been playing without it since I was 18. Its so hard, I just feel better without it.
Kubina, 34, admitted this time was a close call because the cut was so close to his eye.
Thank God it didnt hit my eye, he said. Im always concerned about my eyes. Maybe Ill try it next training camp to get used to it. I cant do it now at this point in the season.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net